Dance Program

Pathway Description

The Dance Program will enrich the lives of young performing artists in the field of dance by providing a learning environment that allows students to capitalize on their innate talent and passion for dance as an art form. The Dance Program provides the dance student with a well-rounded, comprehensive fine arts dance education that develops the student as an artist through opportunities to create, respond, and connect dance to personal and global experiences.

Dance styles will include, but not be limited to, ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Rigorous daily training in dance technique allows students to further develop their physical capabilities. Performance skills and artistry are further developed through required participation in annual performances. Master classes with guest artists from professional companies and faculty from colleges and universities are provided to the dance students.

Students who are accepted will attend Maurice J. McDonough High School as freshmen at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Transportation will be provided by CCPS.

Course Requirements

Dance 1, Dance 2, Dance 3, Dance 4 or Company. Each Course is a double period and 2 credits.

Sample Schedule

	9th Grade	10th Grade	11th Grade	12th Grade
1	English Requirement	English Requirement	English Requirement	English Requirement
2	LSN Government	US History	World History	Financial Lit
3	Math Requirement	Math Requirement	Math Requirement	Math Requirement
4	Science Requirement	Science Requirement	Science Requirement	Technical Ed Requirement
5	World Language	World Language	PE / Health (.5 credit each)	Elective
6	Dance 1	Dance 2	Dance 3 / Company	Dance 4 / Company
7	Dance 1	Dance 2	Dance 3 / Company	Dance 4 / Company

Application Window for the Class of 2028 is open!

What do I need to know before I complete the application?

Attend an informational meeting at McDonough on November 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
View the Dance video on the CTE Showcase for more information about the Dance program.
Refer to the High School Program of Studies for specific program descriptions and course requirements.

Students eligible to apply must meet the following qualifications:

Both the student and parent/guardian must be current residents of Charles County.
The student must be currently enrolled (SY 2023-24) as an eighth-grader in a Charles County Public Schools middle school, private school, or is homeschooled.
No formal dance instruction is required.

Application Process

Student completes the online application with all required information, including a 30-second video best showcasing talent that can be original choreography. Video formats must be .mov (Apple) or .mp4 (Android) and can not exceed 20 MB in size.
Student and Parent/Guardian may attend an informational meeting which will describe the audition process, course descriptions, and other aspects of the dance program in more detail on Nov. 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at Maurice J. McDonough High School Auditorium.
Choreography will be sent to families to memorize for audition.
Student attends an audition at Maurice J. McDonough High School on January 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Application

Student completes the online application with all required information.
Thirty-second video best showcasing talent. The video file must be in .mp4 or .mov format and no larger than 20MB. We suggest using medium quality resolution. If the video size is over 20MB, you can provide a link to the video from either OneDrive or Google Drive. Please make sure the link is viewable for anyone that has the link.
Report cards for sixth and seventh grade to be uploaded to the application.
Student and Parent/Guardian electronically sign the application.
Student attends the audition on January 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Maurice J. McDonough High School.

apply here

Admission decisions are made based on the following criteria:

70% Student audition which includes an assessment of skills
15% Academic performance in sixth and seventh grades as it relates to the program
10% Application questions and video
5% Middle School Attendance - sixth and seventh grade.

Audition Process

Prior to the Audition
- Attend the Informational Meeting on Nov. 6, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at McDonough High School Auditorium. (Recommended)
- Description of Audition Process
- Practice the audition component to be demonstrated at the audition

Day of the Audition – January 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Maurice J. McDonough High School. Inclement weather date is January 27, 2024.
- Arrival: Applicants should arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may not be admitted into the audition.
- Attire: Applicants should arrive wearing attire that is conducive to movement (e.g. leotard, footless or convertible tights, fitted white t-shirt, black dance pants).
  - Please, no jeans or restrictive clothing.
  - Ballet slippers are the preferred footwear for parts of the audition and will enhance the candidate’s ability to perform certain movements. Ballet slippers will be made available for students who need them on the day of the audition.
  - Bare feet will also be required for parts of the movement experience.
  - Hair must be secured away from the neck and face. No loose jewelry (e.g. necklace, bracelet, hoop earrings) is to be worn for the audition.
- Accompanying Adult: Parents are to drop off applicants and return at the conclusion of the audition.
- Audition Duration: Approximately 3 hours
- Unforeseen Illness or Emergency: If the applicant cannot attend or complete the scheduled audition due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, please immediately contact 301-934-2944. Please leave a detailed voicemail if the call is not answered up by a live operator. Please be aware that auditions will not be rescheduled without documentation verifying the illness or emergency.
- Inclement Weather: In the event that school activities are canceled due to inclement weather, dance auditions will be postponed. Postponed auditions will occur on the designated inclement weather date of January 27, 2024. All emergency closing and cancellation information will be posted on the CCPS automated information line,301-934-7410 or 301-932-6655. Closings and cancellation announcements may also be made through local media.
- Letters of recommendation and portfolios are not accepted; applicants do not need to come prepared with choreography for the audition
After the Audition
- Students will be notified if callbacks are required
- Students will be notified in February if they are accepted into the program

Selection Process

Once the application/audition process is closed, a committee will meet to determine a qualifying score for the program. All students who meet the qualifying score will be considered a candidate for the program. Candidates of 20 will be selected for acceptance and other candidates will be placed on the waitlist and offered a seat if it becomes available.

Acceptance Requirements

In February 2024, letters of acceptance will be mailed. The letter of acceptance will contain an acceptance/decline agreement. Within two weeks of receipt, the acceptance/decline agreement must be signed and returned with two proofs of legal Charles County residency. If the acceptance agreement is not received within two weeks, Maurice J. McDonough High School will consider the acceptance as declined by the parent and the student.

acceptable proofs of residency/domicile

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

General Information

Is the dance program a CTE or “completer” program?
The dance program is not a CTE or “completer” program. In this program, selected CCPS students will take 4 years of formal dance classes with an emphasis on ballet, modern, and jazz dance styles. All dance classes will be 88-minute double periods and will meet every day.

Where is the dance program located?
The dance program is located at Maurice J. McDonough High School.

What styles of dance will be taught in this program?
The foundation of this comprehensive program will be based in Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz. Other styles will be introduced throughout the four-year program.

How many students will be selected?
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Is transportation provided for selected dance students who are not in the McDonough school zone?
Transportation is provided to students who are selected for the dance program regardless of where they live in the county.

How is transportation for dance programs provided?
Transportation will be provided near the student’s normal zoned pick-up location, if not the same location.

Will students need to provide specific materials/clothing?
Students will need to have ballet shoes as well as appropriate clothing that allows the student full range of motion. More details will be given when students are selected for the program.

Application Process

Who may apply to the dance program?
All students who are current 8th grade Charles County residents are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for the dance program?
You may apply online at CCPS Dance Application. Parents should carefully review all application materials.

CCPS Dance Application

What documents must be submitted with the application?
Video: A 30-second video of the applicant performing a choreographed dance routine. This can be an original routine.

How will I know that my application is received?
Online applicants will receive an e-mail confirmation of receipt. A certified email receipt serves as verification of delivery and as your proof of timely submission.

Admission Process – Qualification

What are the requirements to be considered for placement in the dance program?
Applicants to the dance program must be eligible to attend a Charles County public school and must complete the dance application and audition process.

What is the dance audition?
The dance audition measures a student’s potential to be successful in a formal dance environment. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that the application has been completed and the video uploaded, to note the date and time of the audition, to review the application materials, and to ensure that the applicant prepares for and attends the audition. It is recommended that parents and students download and review the Description of Audition Process before the audition.

Description of Audition Process

Why is it important to obtain the Audition Guidelines prior to the dance audition?
The Description of Audition Process contains specific information regarding the components of each audition and any preparation required prior to the audition. It may also include sample questions and self-evaluation tools. A copy of the Description of Audition Process can be obtained at the information meeting. It is the parent's responsibility to obtain the Description of Audition Process.

Description of Audition Process

Admission Process – Selection

How are applicants selected for placement in the dance program?
If there are fewer applicants than seats available for the dance program, all eligible applicants are offered placement. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of seats available, a random lottery may be conducted and a general wait-list created.

Who receives priority placement in the dance program?
There is no priority placement. Students will be placed by the results of the application and audition process.

How and when will I be notified of my admission status?
All applicants receive written notification of their status from the Dance Program. Decision letters will be mailed in February. The following status categories are possible:

Admitted: The applicant qualified and is offered a seat in the program.
Wait-listed: The applicant qualified but is not offered a seat at that time (see below). The applicant is assigned a wait-list number based on his/her computer-generated random placement.

If I am offered and accept the dance placement, what do I need to do next?
The school will contact you with enrollment information and the date by which enrollment must be completed. Failure to enroll by the date set by the school may result in forfeiture of the program seat.

Please Note: Enrollment in the dance program is contingent upon proof of eligibility to attend a Charles County public school.

Admission Process – Wait-list

How do I get my child on a wait-list?
Only students who applied by the application deadline and meet the qualification requirements for the dance program can be placed on a wait-list. When there are more applicants for the dance program than there are seats to accommodate them, a random lottery selection process may be used to fill the available seats and create a wait-list for the program. Placement on the wait-list means, as a result of the random lottery process, your child was not selected for initial placement. If a student who was offered admission declines the placement, the unfilled seat can then be offered to students on the wait-list. Wait-lists are maintained until the close of business (4:00 p.m.) on the last day of the first quarter of the school year for which admission is sought.

What does the wait-list number mean?
The wait-list number indicates your child's position on the wait-list. Unfilled seats are offered to students in ascending order of the wait-list number, starting with the student who is number 1 on the wait-list. You will need your child’s wait-list number when checking on your child's wait-list status. Your child's wait-list number will not change even though the number of students on the wait-list may decrease as placements are offered.

What are my child's chances of getting into a program from the wait-list?
If an applicant is offered placement in the dance program and declines the seat, the Dance Programs’ staff will contact the next applicant on the wait-list. This process continues until the close of business on the last day of the first quarter of the school year for which admission is sought. It is impossible to predict how many, if any, applicants may decline a placement offer. If all of the seats in a program are filled, no additional applicants will be offered placement from the wait-list.

How will I be contacted with a placement offer?
The Dance Program staff will contact parents of wait-listed applicants by email using the email address(es) provided on the application. It is important that parents be prepared to accept or decline the placement when contacted. If no email address was provided, parents will be contacted by phone. If no one is available to take the call, the office staff must be able to leave a message. It is the parent's responsibility to inform the Dance Programs’ staff if their email address and/or phone number(s) change.

If my child is offered placement, how long will I have to make a decision?
The parent will have three (3) days in which to respond to the placement offer. If the last day to accept the offer falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a school system holiday, the period ends on the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or school system holiday. Failure to respond by the deadline will result in forfeiture of the seat and the offer will be extended to the next applicant on the wait-list.

If I accept a seat in one program, will my child be removed from the wait-list(s) for other regional programs?
No. Your child will remain on the other wait-list(s) until you are offered a seat, until the wait-list is no longer active, or until you request your child to be removed from the wait-list. If you decline a placement offer for a program, your child will only be removed from that program's list.

If I accept the dance placement offer from the wait-list, what do I need to do next?
Parents will need to schedule an enrollment appointment with the school. Failure to enroll in a timely manner may result in forfeiture of the program seat.

Please Note: Enrollment in the dance program is contingent upon proof of eligibility to attend a Charles County public school.

What should I do if my child is not offered placement from the wait-list by the start of the school year?
You will need to enroll your child in his/her zoned school or any other school where your child has been offered placement.

Withdrawal Process

Can my child stay in the dance program if we move?
Students admitted to the dance programs may remain in the program so long as their parents are residents of Charles County, and the student has not been withdrawn to attend another school, public or private.

Under what circumstances can my child be withdrawn from the dance program?
Parents may remove students from the dance program and return them to their home schools at the end of that school year. Principals of the students' home schools will not deny the enrollment in this circumstance.

A student may be withdrawn from the dance program at the end of the year if the student fails one or more required courses in the dance program.

A student who is withdrawn from the dance program shall be enrolled in the student’s zoned school, unless the parent has arranged for admission to another school.

Any decision by the principal to withdraw a student from the dance program because of academic failure in a required dance course shall be approved in advance by the Chief of the Office of Teaching and Learning. The principal will provide the student's parent(s) with a written explanation of the basis for the withdrawal that includes the process for appealing the decision.